Exeter Area YMCA expands teen programming

Leaders in Training is a youth-governed program that gives teens the opportunity to build relationships, help organize events, and participate in community service. [Courtesy photo]▲

The Exeter YMCA is expanding its teen programming this fall by introducing a Junior Leaders Club. [Courtesy photo]▲

EXETER -- The Exeter YMCA is expanding its teen programming this fall.

In January 2018, the Y introduced "Leaders in Training," Y-LIT, to its facility. This youth-governed program gave teens the opportunity to build relationships, help organize events, and participate in community service.

This fall, the Y is striving to serve both middle and high school students by introducing a Junior Leaders Club (Y-Leaders-In-Training) and more structured programming to support teens, keeping them engaged and supervised Monday through Friday, 2:30-6 p.m.

Youth, ages 11 and up, can participate in a variety of weekly programs, called "Y-Unlimited," for a low program fee of $10 per month with their Y membership (a youth membership is just $15 per month). Financial assistance is always available. Low program fees and assistance are made possible because of annual support donors and Exeter Health Resources.

Y-Unlimited offers multiple choices each day that include art, sports, cooking, chess, homework help and fitness instruction. These choices provide independence, skill development, positive social interactions, and encourage a healthy lifestyle - mind, body and spirit. With this ala carte structure, the Y's goal is to increase engagement and decrease screen time.

"Y-LIT gives me a chance to make new friends and hang out with different people than I normally would," says Griffin Deschenes, member of YMCA Leaders Club. "We wanted to have a dunk tank for Healthy Kids Day and it was really cool to work together and make it actually happen. The Y is a great place to bring ideas to life."

Teens from Cooperative Middle School and Exeter High School may take school buses to the YMCA.

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